General Marquis Nozu Michitsura

Michitsura Nozu (Nozu Michitsura) (17 December 1840 - 18 October 1908), was a Japanese field marshal and leading figure in the early Imperial Japanese Army.

Born in Kagoshima as the son of a samurai of the Satsuma domain, he took part in the Boshin War. In 1871, he was appointed an army major, and later fought against his former colleagues in the Satsuma Rebellion. In 1878, he became commander of the Tokyo military district. Together with War Minister Oyama Iwao, he visited Europe to examine the military systems of various European nations. On returning to Japan, he was appointed commander of the Hiroshima military district and promoted to general in 1894.

During the First Sino-Japanese War he led the Hiroshima Division at the Battle of Pyongyang (1894). He succeeded General Yamagata Aritomo as command-in-chief of the Manchurian Army, and fought in that capacity throughout the remainder of the war. Afterwards, he successively held various military posts including Commander of the Imperial Guard Division, Inspector-General of Military Training, and Military Councillor.

For his services, Emperor Meiji granted him the rank of viscount in 1895. Nozu commanded the Japanese Fourth Army in the Russo-Japanese War, and was promoted to field marshal in 1906. His title was also upgraded to koshaku(marquis) in 1906.

His decorations included the Order of the Golden Kite (1st class) and the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.

He died in 1908